A Room With a View

All over the map...literally!

2010-09-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

Here is a looooong overdue return to decorating, blogging and just home in general! The past 5 months have been the busiest of my life. I have been on numerous trips, hosted guests in my home, did a little decorating for clients, oh, and I managed to squeeze in caring for a 2 1/2 year old and almost 1 year old in my spare time:) I'm pooped! I am not complaining believe me...it has been FUN, inspiring, and we have created lasting memories. Pure bliss. But I have to admit, I am ready to head indoors. I am ready for some hot cider and pumpkin bread. I can't wait to cozy up next to our first fire of the season. Apple picking... Hay rides... Halloween... Thanksgiving... Christmas... I'm ready. And I am literally brimming with ideas that I can't wait to share!

So let me start by giving you a glimpse of a trip that I took this summer. Do you watch 9 By Design on Bravo? It is a must see if you love design and have a family! Bob and Courtney Novogratz own Six Design in NYC and it is their story of running a huge design business all while raising 7 kids...yes, 7 kids...the oldest of which is 12:) They are masters of mixing styles and creating art out of thrift store finds. They designed a hotel on the Jersey Shore and my husband and I went there for a few days for our 10 year anniversary. It was amazing. Here is a little tour to inspire...

The room...crisp white on white decor with bright pops of color. And the bed was heaven.

That's me hanging by the outdoor fireplace. Comfortable lounge area punctuated by these great hourglass tables and overflowing with atmosphere.

Anne Carrington's 'The Queen'. Her works were displayed in every guest room as well.

Another Anne Carrington piece.

Signature Bob and Cortney backlit letters.

The hallway. Such a great design technique-- wallpapering alternate walls. It really draws your eye down the hall without making you feel dizzy:)

The beach of course

I saved the best for last...that's my man! Isn't he cute:)

Ahhh...I'll just daydream here for a minute...

Okay, let's get back to business:) The long awaited Kitchen Countertops have been finished for awhile, and, well, you know...I've had no time to blog! BUT I'm ready to blog about them. I heart them. They make such a huge difference in my kitchen and I can't tell you how many people think they are granite. When I tell them they are painted, the reponse is always..."WHAT?!" I'll take that as a compliment:)

Here's a sneak peak...

Now let me get writing...

Golden Gal Makeover

2010-04-29T09:57:00.000-07:00

I have been off the map lately...life has become so crazy busy but thankfully there is an end in sight. I have not mentioned this until now, but I have a HUGE project that is upcoming that I can't wait to share with you. It is a unique project as it presents many different challenges... budget, design and emotional challenges all rolled into one project! So what is it you ask??? Well, my mother is moving from my childhood home in MI to a condo in FL. If anyone has been through this, you know that there is a lot of emotion and excitement tied up in this move. I'm sad to never be able to go back to my childhood home, but I'm excited for the new opportunity's that this move creates for my mom and my family. So mom has slated me with design duties in the new condo. This is a huge challenge because the condo is a rental which means that we are limited by paint color, window treatments, light fixtures and permanent finishes like countertops, cupboards, etc. At first I thought---"ugh, how is this going to feel like home?!" And then I realized...this is a perfect new challenge for me. So many people rent homes, condos, and apartments and think they will never be able to create a space that feels like their own. That is simply not true.

So this excites me! To be able to create an amazing design working with existing paint color, window treatments and finshes (and they are not neutral, by the way--mauve anyone???). But we can create a great design and we will. The reveal will happen over Memorial Day weekend and there is much to do before then. Now for the pics..

The Master Bedroom with sliders out to the Lanai...

The trick will be to play down the pattern of the drapes with a couple of calming colors. I'm thinking crisp white and navy is where we will go. Add in some beautiful bedding and accessories and those drapes will fade into the background. I know, you're thinking..."no way!" Wait and see...:)

Guest Bath
Pretty straightforward. But we will give it some "wow" in the form of a shower curtain in a modern fabric...maybe a fretwork print. Like this one from Waverly. Looks kind of green in the pic but it is actually chocolate. Throw in some hand towels and some great artwork and done.

The Living Room
Now the real work begins...
This is where my decorating chops will be tested:) These draperies are actually not bad in person. They have a light yellow background color that gets completely lost up against the white (with a hint of pink) walls. Wish we could paint, but the owner just re-painted the place so that is a no-go. So the furnishings will be the catalyst to bring it all together. We are looking at a buttercream slipcovered sofa and some colorful accent chairs.

The Kitchen view to the Dining area...Living Room to the left. Like I said, mauve anyone??? That's okay, we can bring this up to date with some great runners, place mats and dishes. It'll work...trust me:)

More Living Room/Dining area photos and sliders to the Lanai.

And really, it is all about this view...I mean, that is why you move to Florida right???View from Living Room to Dining areaMaster Bath...needs a little pizzazz...Mom wants to use this room as her office slash guest room. Needs a window treatment and maybe we will tie in the gray from the carpet to bring it all together.

Stay tuned!! Can't wait to see this Golden Gal pad get the update that it deserves!

Outdoor Space Renovation : Siding, Screens, and Sofa

2010-03-22T04:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, my blessed husband and I have been working our tuckuses off getting this space put together! We have made great strides and the hardest part is done...the screens!

Let me remind you what the porch looked like before...

Take note of the ripped screens courtesy of Mr. Woodpecker:)

Here are pics of my very own "Ty Pennington"...
Some screens were easier than others! All in all, re-screening was challenging but definitely doable. Now that we have done it ourselves, I don't think that I would pay someone to do this in the future. It was fairly easy, but definitely a two person job and very time consuming. It took us 4 hours straight of both of us working to complete the project. One of us had to hold the the screen taught while the other person stapled the screen in place. We then had to nail finishing strips in place to frame the screens.

It is coming along nicely, but something that has been bothering me about this space is this wall of vinyl siding. This is what you are facing when sitting on my lovely "new to me" outdoor sofa. The wall looks like this...Totally uninspiring. It just bothers my eye immensely! So I decided to do a white wash on the siding to give it a very Cottage-like appearance. This was my inspiration photo...
And this is the result...I really like the way it turned out. It was pretty simple to complete. I simply watered down white outdoor paint until the consistency was like this...

And then I just painted over the whole area making sure that everything was covered. Now this is vinyl siding which has no depth whatsoever versus the real wood in the inspiration photo which has lots of depth. So I had to build in the depth with additional layers of paint. How? I'll tell you...after letting the first layer of white wash dry, I dipped a tiny bit of my brush in the full strength paint. I then brushed the paint over the area in an erratic manner. I repeated this step until I achieved the desired look.

So now for my Craigslist outdoor sofa reveal! And let me say, I have been looking for this exact piece for YEARS but could not justify paying full price for it. It is the Pottery Barn Seagrass sectional and I had given up all hope on ever finding it on the cheap. But I did...and like I've said before, I'm still riding the bargain shoppers high!
We still need accessories and some artwork...I have some Fab&Frugal ideas for those. But hey, we've come a long way baby!

Treasuring Your Treasures

2010-03-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

First of all, so sorry to everyone! I have been on a little hiatus! But don't think that I have been resting on my laurels. I have some huge reveals coming up that you will not want to miss!

So I have been wanting to do something creative with some special mementos ever since my precious son was born 2 years ago. You know how you hold on to their first little onsies, hats, binky's, etc...just to end up throwing them in a box in the attic never to be seen again? Well, this is a mini project that you can do to honor those special mementos. I bought a shadow box picture frame and gathered up my scrap booking supplies and precious mementos.

Look at the size of that onesie!! It is almost the same size as the 5 x 7 photo next to it! I can't believe that this guy... was that small! He is actually wearing that onsie in his newborn photo that I am using for this project. I had to add in the hand knitted hat and the binky that he received in the hospital. And as you can see in the above photo...he is a binky addict!!! So I couldn't leave that out:)
gathering my supplies...

I cut designer scrapbook paper to size and used it as a background for the frame.

I added nifty little brown satin picture corners. And they are self adhesive...love that!

I then arranged everything in the shadow box frame...

I secured everything with pearl tipped push pins.

Sweet...

I also did a very simplified version that I LOVE too. Sometimes the simpler the design, the stronger the message...

For the sake of equity, I must say that I will be doing this for Brooke too, but they only had one frame left at the store. Plus, I figured that I better do Bobby's before I lose these mementos in his closet which is rapidly becoming the "great abyss"! I still have Brooke's mementos tucked away safely:) Can you tell that I have Mommy guilt over this?? :)

Here is a preview of some amazing projects that are coming up...

Cruddy Cabinet Re-do

Moulding Magic

Venetian Plaster

Mural Painting 101

And, of course, the big Outdoor Space Reveal ***hint--you saw a little glimpse of it in an above pic!

And...The much requested Counter Top Painting!!! All to come soon:)

Fab & Frugal Floor to Ceiling Drapes

2010-02-26T06:24:00.001-08:00

This is one of my favorite Fab & Frugal tricks. Most of you probably know how costly drapery panels can be. I have sewn floor to ceiling draperies for clients more times than I can count. They are usually one of the more expensive treatments because of the amount of fabric, lining and interlining that is needed. A good lining and interlining is key because you want the drape to look full bodied, not flimsy. Nothing worse than a flimsy, see-through drapery panel in my book! And, you know me, I want the look of expensive without the expense...so I came up with this in my own house...And I have to say it is pretty brilliant!

Would you believe that these are 2 King size quilts?

Yes, that's right, a quilt that you would put on your bed...like this...

but on the window. Crazy, right? Crazy beautiful!!!! Add a little pizazz in the form of a silk fabric border and tassels and we're in business!

As I mentioned before, I hate a flimsy drape so what makes these so fab is that you get the full bodied look without the work and expense of lining and interlining. Also, on a design note, I love that they are off white in the midst of dark walls and furnishings. It gives the eye a rest.

The play by play...

1. Wash and tumble dry the quilt/bedspread.
2. Lay out the quilt on a flat surface. I used the living room floor.
3. cut 8" strips of a fabric of your choice. I used this beautiful silk mini check because I knew it would be easy to match the pattern up.
4. Fold over a 1/2 inch of the fabric so that the rough edge is not showing. Iron it flat.

5. Hot glue the fabric border to the edge of the quilt. Fold it over the edge of the quilt and hot glue the other side as well. This way you have a clean finished look on both sides of the drape.

Back

Front

6. Cut tassel fringe to the length of the drape and attach the fringe to the fabric border with hot glue.
7. Attach to clip rings and hang from a drapery rod.

I pulled it back with tassel tie backs...

L.O.V.E.

Now for the best part...the savings!

2 King size quilts = $40 x 2= $80
10 Yards Tassel Fringe = $10 (got a major bargain here!)
2 Yards silk border fabric = $30
Total $120

Now if these were custom draperies...

20 Yards Decorator Quality Fabric = $400
20 Yards Lining = $160
20 Yards Interlining = $160

Okay you get the idea...$720 just for the fabric and linings!!! Not to mention the trim! It would be approaching $900 for the same look that I achieved for $120...Makes me happy:) I would love to see your pictures if you try this in your own home!

Painted Staircase

2010-02-23T05:18:00.000-08:00

I found this on The Inspired Room and it goes perfectly with my plan for my own staircase renovation! Enjoy...

Step Black!

by Remodeling Guy
Written by: Tim Layton (aka Remodeling Guy)
Tim’s love of creativity and design mix with a perspective built on a career as a remodeling contractor.He can also can be found at his blog, RemodelingGuy.net

…

Step Black!? Oh man… sometimes I really make myself wonder with my goofy titles.

Maybe a picture will help!

Black painted stair treads!

I was looking though some pictures on House Beautiful, and I started to realize that I was seeing the same idea over and over. I must have been living under a rock, because I didn’t realize much of this was going on. Maybe it is.

Have you ever considered painting your stairs black? I’m talking solid black, as in “pitch”.

How about a few more pictures:

I like it! I really think this is a great alternative to stained wood steps. If you’re remodeling and your old steps are pretty worn out, this is an option that can look wonderful without breaking the bank.

This is also something that can be done by a less experienced DIY’er if you’re so inclined. The real key is to make sure the paint dries well between coats and then that it is allowed to really cure for a good week or more before allowing traffic on it. This allows the paint surface to harden up before it has to withstand foot traffic.

So, what do you think?

Are you going to step-up to the plate and give black steps a try?
Or maybe you want to take it down a notch and go with a lighter color?

Tomorrow, Melissa will be showing you her dramatic red staircase before & after makeover, her thoughts on the upkeep of wood and painted steps versus carpet, and her plans for making over for her new staircase (and the plans involve BLACK!) Stay tuned…

photos: House Beautiful

This gives me great inspiration...I'm definitely tackling this in my own house. The trick will be how to do this and keep a 2 year old off the steps for a whole week....hmmmm:) More to come about this!

This is my own inspired photo...

Fab & Frugal End Tables

2010-02-22T10:01:00.000-08:00

This is such a great idea! I have been searching Craigslist/ebay/garage sales, etc. for end tables for my Outdoor Space renovation without any luck. Pictured below is my dream piece, but there is NO WAY that I am paying that much for an outdoor table. So I headed out to my decor mecca...HomeGoods! Say what you will about HomeGoods, but as a professional decorator that specializes in saving my clients money where I can, HomeGoods is IT for accessories. Not only did I get the idea for these Fab & Frugal end tables, but I found a couple great pieces for next to nothing that will be the inspiration for the fabric and texture in the space.

So let me explain how I did this...pay close attention, it's so tricky you might miss something:) KIDDING! It's so easy it's ridiculous!

Turn over a rectangle woven basket like this...

Purchase a serving tray that matches the woven material and size of the basket that you are using. Then put the tray on the basket...

Then I purchased a clear tempered glass cutting board and placed it inside the serving tray. It's great because it provides a smooth surface for drinks and snacks and gives it a more finished look.

Hey, not bad for a $10 investment!

Or why couldn't you use this same idea to make an ottoman. You could easily make a cushion to place on the inverted basket. Endless possibilities:)

It's All Coming Together...

2010-02-21T17:30:00.000-08:00

For those of you that have been following my Outdoor Space renovation, we have made great strides. Not to say that it has been a straight shot...sometimes you just have to change direction. Have you ever found that perfect piece for such an amazing price that it was just too good to pass up? That is where I'm at. I found this piece for my Outdoor Space renovation on Craigslist for a STEAL! I'm still riding the "bargain shoppers high" and may be for some time:) The problem is that it really doesn't fit with any of my inspiration rooms. When I was plannig my space renovation, I was thinking budget. budget. budget. Never did I think that I would find a piece like this within my budget. But I did...happy dance!!! So back to the drawing board we go. What does this piece say to you? To me, it says cool breezes, seaside living and the taste of salt on my lips. It evokes images of cedar shake homes with the gray patina of age. So... Coastal Living, here I come.
I perused the pages of a Coastal Living that I had from a few years back and saw a lot of crisp, clean blues and whites complimented beautifully with woven seagrass and abaca pieces like this. Very nautical...not at all what I was planning, but I like it. I like it a lot. And what's even better is that it is totally different from anything that I have in my home. But there's nothing that I hate more than the obvious when it comes to design. Great design is 50% aesthetic and 50% feeling. In other words, you don't achieve a coastal design by hanging a Captain's wheel on the wall and putting out a bowl of seashells. Do you know what I'm saying? Have you ever walked into a room like that? It's as if the home owner is telling you what you should think and feel about the space. Good design is unspoken. You walk in the room and you feel it. No one thing jumps out and defines the space. The space is defined as a whole. Everything working together cohesively to give you "that" feeling when you step into the space. No words, no captain's wheel, just cool breezes and salty lips...THAT is my challenge.

Not to say that those things don't have their place, just not in this case.

Loving my new rooms that inspire...

Stripes are quintessential for Coastal design. I also love the shutters, but not sure that is feasible in our space.

I love the hand painted patina on these wood pieces...

Ahhhh...makes me want to kick off my flip flops and put up my sandy feet! Can't you just taste the salt?:)

I have already found a few pieces to go in the room and I have a fab and frugal idea for coffee tables! Can't wait to share it with you:)
See you tomorrow,

Roman Shade Re-make in 30 Minutes

2010-02-17T08:48:00.000-08:00

What is the first thing that you buy after you move into a new house??? Blinds! Well, that's if they didn't come with your house...and in my case, they didn't. So while the ink was still drying on our closing docs, I measured my windows and went out and purchased the cheapest blinds that I could find. My intention, of course, was to make window treatments for every room in my house within the first month of being there. Uhhhh...fast forward almost 6 years...I still have those cheap woven Roman blinds on a few windows!

These days I have more of an eye toward re-purposing items rather than the "throw the baby out with the bath water" attitude that I used to have. So I've been thinking...why can't I just re-cover this blind with some great fabric and call it a day? And that's what I did...it looks so great and I can't wait to re-cover the other blinds that I have...so fun! Best of all, no sewing needed! As you know, I'm all about easy and cheap projects these days. I used left over fabric that I had from an old project so this literally cost me a big whopping $0.00...gotta love it!

This is the before...

1. Iron the fabric that you plan on using for your blind.

2. Cut to size leaving an extra 2 inches of width on all sides...top/bottom/Left/Right.

3. Attach the fabric to the roman with hem tape.
Neatly fold over the sides and cut a piece of hem tape to the length that you need. Apply heat with an iron until the tape fuses the fabric to the shade.
You could also sew this by hand using a blind stitch, or even use a glue gun if you are really looking for speed and an easy project!

4. Wrap the fabric around the header as if you are wrapping a present. Secure with hot glue.
5. Fold the bottom hem up neatly and fuse with more hem tape.Done!

love!

Sweet Ideas For Your Valentine

2010-02-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

I have been pondering Valentine ideas for days! Something original, beautiful, personal and sentimental. I was in a quandary until I started thinking about my Valentine projects that I did as a little girl. And then it hit me. Remember those Valentines shoe boxes that we made to hold all our Valentines at school? Well, this is a remodeled version of that red and pink construction paper shoe box! I decided to make little valentine boxes for my wee ones. My goal is to bring these boxes out every year on V-day and surprise my wee ones when they wake with a Valentine and gift in their box. Cute, right?! Yay--a new tradition just like that! And I'm all about tradition.

Bobby's

Brooke's

It will also serve as a storage for all the Valentines that they receive throughout the years from mommy and daddy. Love it!

Every Christmas, I have a nifty way of displaying my Christmas cards. I tape a long piece of wired decorative ribbon to my kitchen cabinets and then I attach all of my Christmas cards. So why not Valentine hearts???

I outlined heart shapes using a heart shaped cookie cutter onto designer scrapbook paper. I cut them out and then attached candy hearts with a glue gun. Instead of wired ribbon, I used burlap twine. The result...sweeter than sweet:)

Treasure your Valentine this weekend! See you tomorrow...

Outdoor Spaces

2010-02-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you but I am totally ready for Spring! Every year at this time, I start to think about the bane of my outdoor existence...the gypsy moths. If you live in the Northeast, you know what I'm talking about. If you do not know what I'm talking about, let me enlighten you. They are caterpillars (that eventually turn into moths) that eat the trees and poop...yes poop... all over the place. It is beyond gross and it makes enjoying your outdoor space nearly impossible. This year we have taken care of the problem. We took down 4 giant Oak trees that were the bulk of our poopy problem and now we are looking forward to a poop-free summer:)

So this has my creative juices flowing! I really want to create outdoor spaces that I can enjoy all summer long. The space needs to meet a few criteria: it must be a space that I can relax and watch the sun set with my husband after the kids go to bed; it must be great for entertaining; it must be kid friendly; and it must have a space where I can stretch out with a good book and maybe even get some sun!

Our outdoor space has good bones, as "they" say, so all it needs is a little TLC and an inviting decorative touch. We will be working with a screened porch, deck and patio. Most of my focus will be dedicated to the screened porch. And thanks to a woodpecker that got trapped in there last summer, we need all new screens! My husband and I think we can tackle that project on our own and save some bucks there. Oh and did I mention that I'm on a very strict budget??? So Craigslist and garage sales will be my shopping resource. Also, I will be sewing all the pillows and making all the cushions myself. Of course, I will take you on that journey with me! This is the screened porch...

And these are my inspiration rooms...

I love the white painted ceiling in this room and I'm toying with the idea of a daybed...

Love the painted coffee table in this one...

Again, love the white ceiling and the natural fiber rug...

I really like this furniture layout. This is my inspiration sofa! I definitely want a full three seater sofa and hopefully I can find some thick cushions like these...fingers crossed:)

Part of me really likes traditional white wicker porch furniture. Makes me want to sit with a pitcher of sweet tea! Not sure that I will go this route, but I do like the idea of a wicker chaise...

And then there is the Shabby Chic...I love the gauzy drapes and the fresh, feminine style. hmmmmm....

Because we use the porch to house food and drink tables when we have parties, I want the porch to have light and comfortable furniture that can easily be moved out for parties. I like the look of white wicker, but I'm open to Seagrass and Banana Leaf too. I want the room to feel cool and inviting, but be very comfortable i.e. lots of pillows and soft cotton fabrics. To sum it up, i don't want it to be too fussy and comfort is of the utmost importance.

I am leaning toward a Shabby Chic look for this porch. But like I've said before, I like to marry all different styles so I expect this to be very interesting and fun! Stay tuned to watch this project unfold...
See you tomorrow!

Hand Painted Limestone Vanity Top

2010-02-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

Wow, this was fun! And I promise it literally only took 30/45 minutes to complete...no joke!!

Ta da!!!

The look of real stone without the price!
Okay, so the trick to creating a faux stone finish is layering, layering, layering. Layering paints of various colors in order to achieve that random beauty that is only found in nature.
I started out gathering my supplies. Acrylic paints in Ecru, Titanium White, Burnt Umber, and Iridescent Gold. I also added in some of the base color that I used in the cabinet project. My brush...I use a regular old angled paint brush. I like the large pattern and rich textured finish it creates. I am not a huge fan of using a sponge. You can use one if you make sure that it does not look like a sponge treatment. *Tip* The smaller the brush the smaller the pattern and vice versa.

I also had a stone tile on hand that I used as a reference when doing my project.

Start off by applying the Ecru Acrylic paint in a random pattern covering the surface completely. I call the technique that I use the "pounce and twist." Start off by pressing down with your brush like this...

Then twist and lift...

End in this position...

I repeated this process with the base cabinet color, burnt umber and iridescent gold in a very sporadic and sparse manner. I then topped everything with Titanium white. At this point, you begin to see the stone take shape...

I topped everything with another sporadic layer of the ecru acrylic paint and the finish it off with 4 coats of Polyurethane(yes 4). *Tip* Make sure the Poly dries completely between coats:)

Voila!

Distressed Cabinet

2010-01-30T17:38:00.000-08:00

Drum roll please.......
So here it is...the big reveal! The bathroom cabinet turned out great!

I did a similar project in a clients home a few months ago. We found a telephone table at Calico Corners with this same finish.

So then the wheels started turning. Why couldn't we paint her kitchen cabinets in this same finish??? Thankfully she was game, so I called in the painter and we were on a roll. The finished product was beyond amazing! It needs to be in a magazine...nuff said:)

Now for the steps...

1. I started out prepping the cabinet by washing it and lightly sanding the finish with a very smooth sandpaper. Don't go crazy here... I literally did a quick once over with the sandpaper.

2. Next, I primed with a tinted primer, then painted the whole cabinet in a very light shade of blue-gray. Okay, I can't give you details on the base color because I bought the paint at Lowes in their (what I like to call) reject section. They mark down all of the paints that are mixed incorrectly and sell them on a cart in the paint dept. I paid 2.50 for a quart of paint! I had no idea if the paint would work but I was willing to take the risk. Lucky for me, it worked.

3. Then I bought a Benjamin Moore paint sample in the color Hemlock. I dipped my brush in water and then put a dab of the Hemlock on the brush. I brushed lightly over the whole cabinet in a random pattern--no need for perfection here.

4. After the paint had completely dried, I started with the glaze. And let me just say here, I love glaze. It creates such depth and beauty in so many forms. Anyway, on to the glaze. Lightly brush the glaze onto the cabinet working in small sections. Immediately rag off the glaze. TIP** Rag off the glaze with a damp cloth. The glaze dries quickly so the damp cloth will give you a little more room to play with the glaze.

5. Add the detail. This is what gives real depth to your project. Dip your brush in the glaze and paint around all of the raised panels then take your damp cloth and run your finger along the edge of the panel so all that is left is a thin line of glaze along the raised panel.

6. Let it dry completely and top it off with 2 coats of Poly acrylic. Done!

Now, I need your help. No cabinet is finished without the jewelry. Hardware...so many choices! These are the two that I am debating between... this

and this...

I would love your feedback!!

Now for our next project. We are going to be staying in the bath for a few days...I am going to change this boring white counter top...

Into this beautiful limestone top...

How?? With paint!!!!

See you tomorrow,

The Journey

2010-01-29T08:08:00.000-08:00

It is that time of year again. I sit looking at the snow out my window in my jammies and a hot cup of tea...dreaming of Spring. This is the time of year where we are all working on keeping New Years resolutions while trying not to go stir crazy with a house full of little ones who are watching way too many cartoons than we care to admit.

And then there is me...I'm going through a crossroads in life. I am a mother of two, a business owner, a housekeeper, a cook, a playmate, a human pillow, and somehow find time to be a friend and lover to my husband...phew!

But I'm also a Decorator. A creator. A lover of design and creating beautiful spaces where life happens. I feel most alive when creating. I started a design business 5 years ago and a lot has changed since then. I am now a mom of two who can hardly find time to shower in the day let alone design! I'm just like you.

Why a blog? Hmmmmm, good question. Well, I'm a dreamer...I've always dreamed of being the "Rachael Ray" of home decor. A bit of an "everyman" decorator, if you will. I'm not a snob. I'm not going to reference Billy Baldwin and Herman Miller in an attempt to impress. I am, very simply, a mom...who has an eye.

So I am gifting myself this year. I will create or be inspired by something, anything, everyday. I will show all of you how I did it. I will show you my secrets, my cheats and my screw ups. Nothing is off limits. Some projects will be big, some small, some tiny, but all will be inspirational.

The kids are napping so my first project begins...A painted bathroom cabinet with a chocolate glaze finish. Should be beautiful!

Soooo...will you take this journey with me?

See you tomorrow:)

Tami

The Patient...boring, boring, boring.

The Inspiration...

Stay tuned for the big reveal...

Advertise

2009-01-29T21:49:00.001-08:00

Under Construction

About Me

2009-01-29T21:49:00.000-08:00

I'm a mom of two who started a Decorating business 5 years ago. A lot has changed since then. These days, I barely have time to shower let alone design! I'm sure you can relate. My design taste is a mix of Traditional Home, Pottery Barn with a dash of Ballard Design thrown in for good measure. Don't think that I'm opposed to dabbling in Shabby Chic and French Country, too! Basically, I like to marry all genres and unify them with color and texture. So if you are like me and have a taste for it all, you are in the right place. Here's to inspiration and creating beautiful spaces where life happens!

A Room With A View is a subsidiary of Decor & More LLC

DIY

2009-01-29T21:48:00.001-08:00

I am a self proclaimed Do It Yourselfer. Mind you, that does not mean that all my projects turn out perfectly every time, but every once in a while one does...and that's what keeps me coming back for more!

So this section is designated for those projects that are probably best left to the professionals. But hey, why not take a chance once in a while??? Variety is the spice of life right? Just don't ask my husband about our bathroom crown mouldings...:)

My 1st DIY that I will be tacking in a few weeks is this...

This is a new product that they sell at Lowes. Basically you are painting your counter tops to look like a stone finish. I have looked into doing this project on my own in the past, so I am glad to see that there is a product on the market that will take me through the steps. I must say though, that I will be adding some extras like metallic and real stone flecks to give it a more genuine look. The whole package sells for $248 at Lowes and with the extra metallic and stone flecks that I will be adding, the project will be up to about $300. Not bad for new counter tops!

Here are more pics of the product...

Inspiration

2009-01-29T21:48:00.000-08:00

Future Projects...

I love the look of this staircase! I may tackle this in my house in the upcoming months:)

Check out this countertop! Concrete! Amazing...

Before & After

2009-01-29T21:47:00.000-08:00

Project #2 Hand Painted Limestone Vanity Top

Before...

After...

Project #1
Distressed Cabinet

Before...

After!!!!